Growing in grace

“Their righteousness is of Me, saith the Lord” (Isaiah 54:17).

The longer the Christian lives, the more he learns; and the more the Spirit teaches him, the more he loathes himself, and renounces his own righteousness as filthy rags. He hoped sensibly to grow in holiness, to feel his corruptions subdued, and to enjoy without interruption the presence of his God; but instead of this, he seems to grow more like Satan, corruption appears to get stronger and stronger, and the depravity of his nature appears so dreadful, that he enjoys scarcely anything. He thinks himself a monster of iniquity, and wonders how God can possibly love him, or show any favour unto him. This experience endears free grace, renders Christ unspeakably precious, and the gift of righteousness invaluable. How can such a man be just before God? Where is his righteousness to come from? Jehovah answers, “His righteousness is of ME.” Jesus wrought it; the Father imputes it to us; the gospel reveals it ; and faith receives it, puts it on, and pleads it before God. O Jesus! In Thee have I righteousness and strength.